I must say that you have one AWESOME shaped tree there..Just wow..What I would do to have mine look like that! Where do you live to be able to get it to look that nice in the ground? You are doing something right)

I'm in south Louisiana (Baton Rouge) and I guess probably doing nothing might actually be doing something right? I was just wondering why it's not branching 'out' but only 'up'. I'm used to seeing citrus trees around here with rounder, wider forms. But those are oranges and lemons...I'm not familiar with how tangerine trees grow. Mainly the foliage is pretty dense, and so I wondered if that lack of air flow would hurt anything. Have also read that sometimes people 'top' their citrus trees to keep them on the shorter side for easier fruit picking. Just would have no idea how to do that either...it's really just a cluster of branches up at the top. I bought it because it said it had a cold tolerance down to -10F, which is kind of hard to believe but plenty good for my area. And we were hit hard with a hard freeze this past winter and it did just fine. Planting citrus in the ground even here is risky because even though we are the deep south, we do often have snaps that take us down into the teens for several days in a row. So we plant in the ground knowing that we may inevitably lose the tree. Fyi - the tag on this tree said Tangerine "Sunburst".

I was wondering if they are prone to grow that way? Someone will know..Every Tangerine tree I have ever seen for sale here looks just like that..More verticle then horizontal.....I love that shaped look. I am assumimg if that is their natural form, the leaves will be just fine and are by nature able to adapt to a thick compacted look....Some grow straight up while others grow wide as you noticed...
Kumquart trees grow the same as also Kaffir lime trees...
What my dad would do is lop off the top of the tree to encourage side growth and it seemd to work..Not sure in your case..But it's beautiful! You live in an area I would give an arm and leg in to move and I would not give one bit about the humidity..Every thing grows better, smells better and grows faster in humidity)

That's what I'm hoping to hear...that that's the way it's supposed to be growing! thanks for taking the time to comment. Maybe someone will see and can tell me if it's a good time/idea to lop off the top. My dad said don't mess with citrus trees at all. And yes if you can handle humidity and mosquitos, you should head down here! My neighbor has a white grapefruit tree that takes up half of his backyard and the fruits are amazing. I just planted a night-blooming jasmine tree and omg...heaven on earth! But I lived in Missouri for a number of years and oh do I miss my dear peonies.....! And no apple trees or fall colors here!

O wow! I am not sure if I would miss the north, but said that way, I just might, especially the Lilac Bushes! I tend to favor tropical plants over the ones I can grow and have abot 6 jasmine plants and you are right, in humidity, the thrive and smell sooo good.
You should try a few fragrant orchids..I would plants hundreds down there..Along with that, you have to grow a few varieties of very sweet figs!! YOu know, your Dad might have a great point. If it were my tree, I would leave it as is...It is just so mazingly beautiful....As for Mosquitos, I would have plenty of frogs lying around to take care of that..lol
Is it hot down there today? It's pretty cool and dry here..NOt the best kind of weather for my trees...
MIke

blippitydar

poncirus trifoliata is the only citrus that can go to -10F. Your sunburst may go down to 20F

Steve

Thanks Steve - I was skeptical of that tag (home depot). Whenever I catch that we are getting a sustained freeze I try to get out there and throw a cover over it and run a 100 watt bulb under there. Have the roots mulched pretty thickly. So far so good. The worst we've had so far since it's been in the ground is Jan 2014 with four consecutive lows of 24F, 21F, 17F, and 32F. But daytimes we climbed up into the upper 30's.

Mikerno - It's 92 and 40% humidity here today. Was down on the gulf fishing yesterday and the sea breeze was our saving grace. It's only June so this is pleasant...August is a little hard to bear. If I can plant those fragrant orchids outdoors here I will def give them a try. Main thing is can they withstand the heat? You have favorites? Aroma similar to what? Have too fig trees in the ground but not growing really...not sure why they look healthy but seem a bit stunted.